By Bintou, Sahiyo Volunteer
I organized an FGC 101 training at my school to introduce the topic to my peers who weren’t familiar with FGC. Female genital mutilation is rarely discussed in the U.S., especially among young people, and I believe that’s partly because many people in America feel disconnected from the issue. This training session was my way of bridging that gap and raising awareness.
It was especially important to me that the training be held in front of teenagers, because normalizing sex education among young people is essential. That normalization helps dismantle the disinformation and stigma around female bodies that allows a harmful practice like FGM/C to continue. Creating spaces for honest discussion and evoking emotional responses inspires people to change, and that is the best outcome I could ask for.
Throughout the presentation, I noticed many grimaces and shocked expressions, especially when students learned that the harmful practice occurs in the United States. This was one of the most validating moments for me, as it achieved exactly what I hoped the training would: challenging the misconception that FGM/C is a practice confined to certain countries and dispelling the myth of Western exceptionality. It brought a distant issue closer to home and helped people to understand that FGM/C isn’t just something that happens in faraway places; it can, and does, happen right here.
Another moment that visibly shocked students was when they heard the account of a young woman being taken by her parents from the U.S. back to her home country of India, to undergo the FGM/C. Hearing about the complicity in the act left many students shaken. Both of these moments were brought up to me after the session was over.
Ultimately, the presentation helped the reality of FGM/C – both its violence and proximity – sink in for the attendees.
What shifted my understanding of FGM/C most was the discussion around healthcare. Hearing a woman recall asking a doctor for help only to be met with invalidation, shattered the idealistic view that I had held onto. I used to think that while the procedure was horrific in itself, women who survived it – especially those with access to care – could seek asylum and find support in healthcare professionals who understood and respected their experiences. However, hearing about this woman’s trauma opened my eyes to how deeply embedded the stigma around such topics is. It made me realize that to truly end FGM/C, we first must dismantle the systems that normalize and perpetuate it.
This training also encouraged me to think of other kinds of FGM/C that are normalized, such as the so-called “extra stitch” that I hear about on social media. This refers to doctors adding an extra stitch to tighten a woman’s vaginal area after childbirth, often at the husband’s request. This intersection of healthcare and FGM/C further exposed me to the misogynistic systems that allow such practices to persist. FGM/C is not an isolated issue – it is connected to broader issues like gender equity, because it reflects the general dismissal of women’s pain, the removal of bodily autonomy, and the lack of proper education on the female body. This is why, to create a world where FGM/C no longer exists, we must start by encouraging a comprehensive understanding of the female body and properly examining the religious and cultural beliefs that contribute to a culture of misogyny.
I want to continue advocating for issues like FGM/C, period poverty, and sex education around the world. Coming from a West African country where female genital mutilation is deeply ingrained in the culture and where religious beliefs restrict open conversations around sexual health, I’ve seen firsthand how stigma and silence perpetuate harm and fear. One day, I hope to return to my country and help change the legislation and cultural attitudes surrounding the issue. I don’t see that as an unrealistic goal. I, and many other young Gambian women, have the ability to create meaningful change. With collaboration, we have the power to build a new generation where girls are able to grow up without being mutilated for the sake of tradition. A world where there is proper education on the female body and access to menstrual products is the norm.
Until then, I will work to raise awareness on the issue and honor the stories of the women who were forced to undergo the horrible procedure.
Overall, I hope my peers walked away from the presentation understanding that they have the power to make a difference. Your voice matters, and when you take the time to educate yourself and fight for what you believe in, you can help create a world that is just, inclusive, and where everyone has the tools and opportunities to be great citizens of the world.
